wfn.org | LWF to continue on ecumenical path

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LWF continues on ecumenical path

HONG KONG, July 25, 1997 (lwi) - "The Lutheran World Federation is a part
of the ecumenical movement," said the Ninth Assembly of the Lutheran World
Federation, meeting in Hong Kong, July 8-19. It asked the LWF Council to
work towards the development of structures within the ecumenical movement
which affirm the ecumenical and confessional nature of Lutheran churches.

The Assembly gave thanks for three decades of Lutheran-Roman Catholic
dialogue and affirmed the work done on the Joint Declaration on the
Doctrine of Justification that deals with a major doctrinal issue that has
divided the two churches since the 16th century. It urged LWF-member
churches to study the Joint Declaration with care and requested that
dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church be continued. When the LWF Council
has considered the responses of member churches, it will need to determine
whether a consensus among the member churches can be declared.

Delegates welcomed a report on the consultation with the Seventh-Day
Adventist Church and asked for continued discussions with that church.

The Assembly noted with gratitude the reports about the dialogues of the
LWF and its member churches with Orthodox, Methodist and
Reformed/Presbyterian churches. The Assembly requested the LWF council and
member churches to continue these dialogues and to support the reception of
their results.

The commitment of the LWF to the goal of full communion with churches of
the Anglican Communion was reaffirmed and renewed and member churches were
urged to take appropriate steps to the realization of that goal.

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